South Ossetia, Russia agree cooperation to develop deposits
TSKHINVALI. Feb 18 (Interfax) - The Republic of South Ossetia and Russia signed an agreement on Friday covering cooperation in geological exploration and development of subsurface deposits.
South Ossetian Economic Development Minister Konstantin Koliev signed the agreement with Natural Resources and Ecology Minister Yury Trutnev, an Interfax correspondent reported from the signing ceremony.
Trutnev also met with South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity.
South Ossetia includes the Kvaisinskoye lead and zinc deposit, the largest polymetal deposit in the North Caucasus. The deposit also contains barite. No development work has been carried out at the deposit for approximately 19 years.
Kokoity called for returning to geological study of the deposit at a meeting with Trutnev in late 2009. At that time they agreed to joint action to more thoroughly explore the deposit and identify the potential for further cooperation.